Customer Reviews

Theory and Experiment in Gravitational Physics

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Will is one of foremost leaders in the field and can do calculating at post-Newtonian orders that make the average relativist cringe. This is a great reference with many detailed computations. It starts with a self contained overview of GR from the "geometric" perspective. Don't expect to learn the GR for the first time from this text. Will assumes a knowledge of Track 1 MTW (if you don't know what that is you might be in over your head). Highlights are chapters comparing alternative theories of gravity using the methods like the PPN method (which Cliff originated) and tying in experimental data. The new edition has some new material on gravitational radiation, and other recent experiements. The treatment of the Hulse-Taylor binary pulsar is as good as it gets. Missing is a chapter on implications for GR in the context of LIGO data (i.e. parameter estimation (for when they find something) and non-detection upper-limits ). Still worth the cash.

A close reading will show that there are some assumptions that are unproven, and verification of General Relativity rests on this cloud castle. I'm not sure that was the author's intent. But sometimes the result of honest effort exceeds intent.

This book is not objective. There is no mention of the three degree cosmic background radiation which calls into question the relativistic and variance foundation of general relativity. This is an enormous problem for the validity of general relativity. Review made by Dr. Hubert Lipinski.